Metering faucet



Feb. 5,l 1935. D, w, McNElL METERING FAUCETy Filed June 28, 1952 """i Shih:

Patented `Feb. v5, 17935 Y. l n l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Y METERING FAUCET Daniel W. McNeil, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The John Douglas Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 28, 1932, Serial No.` 619,721

13 Claims. (Cl. 277-44) f This invention relates to improvements in selfof such small diameter that it presented but a closing metering faucets; One major improvesmall area to the water in the'lower chamber ment is the production of a metering faucet the 8. Due to said small areaVA of plunger 7, it reconstruction of which is such that a metering quired only a small leakage through the pressure 5 plunger of large area, and also a comparatively leak passage 9 to elevate the plunger 7 for closing 5 large non-clogging orifice for feeding water the main valve 1,0, and in order to effect a slow thereto, may be employed Without necessitating elevating movement of the plunger it Wasnecesan undesirable increase in size of the exposed sary to provide a very small pressure leak orifice portion of the faucetl which extends above the 12 at the pressure leak needlevalve 13. By thus l1o slab of'a sink bowl; cutting down the size of the orifice' 12.to such a 10 Other objects of the invention are to provide fine degree, the least amount of corrosionor the a meteringffaucet of a pleasing slender appearleast accumulation of dirt or the like disturbed ance, in which certain vital parts are made large, the adjustment and interfered with proper funcas they should be, to insure reliability of operation of thevvalve. I have overcome this objecl5 tion and proper durability; to render vandaltionable feature by so constructing the device l5 proof and fool-proof a faucet of the self-closing that a plunger of comparatively large area may metering type; to provide a simplified construcbe used, so that the flow of water kpast the needle tion of self-closing metering valve wherein very valve 13 may be faster than in previous valves,

small and easily clogged water orifices are elimiwhile the elevating speed of the plunger is no nated without sacrificing accuracy `or nicety of greater than the elevating speed of plungers in 20 adjustment; to provide for replacement of parts, the older type of metering valve. In other words, if necessary, without disturbing the valve body to effect a given elevating speed of the plunger 7, as all working parts are beneath the slab which the orifice 12 of the pressure leak valve maybe supports the valve body. kept larger, and therefore` more free `of lconr The foregoing and other objects are attained strictio-n, than in the prior devices. o 25 by the means described herein and'disclosed in I accomplish the aforesaid improvements, vby the accompanying drawing, in which: making the faucet body 6 and its shank 14 large Fig. 1 is a longitudinal.cross-sectional view of enough only to accommodate the actuating the faucet of the invention, showing the actuatmechanism 5 and a reciprocable valve stem 15, ing button depressed to openv the valve. placing the entire fluid controlling apparatus rin 30' Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional f View a separate Valve housing 16 that'is attached re-lv i taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. movably to the lower or free end of the faucet Fig. 3 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 1, shank. In this way-I am enabled ytodi'spose of showing the valve open but with the actuating working parts of the device behind or beneath 35 button restored to the normal position by the the faucet supporting slab 17 on which the device 35 pressure of water. is mounted, thereby rendering the valve fool- Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line proof and protected from vandalism on the part 4 4 of Fig. l. of persons inclined to tamper therewith. This The device of this invention isafaucet for sink feature, however, issecondary to the idea of l 11) bowl or similar use, wherein depression of an providing a small and neat faucet body 6 that is 40 actuating means which may be a lever or a button exposed to View exteriorly or atop .the` slab 17.

5, effects a limited flow of water or other liquid The body 6 of thefaucet preferably is yprofor a limited time after release of the actuating vided with some sort offspout lextending later-` means. This general typeof valve is old and ally thereof, the top .of the bodyy being provided a5 well known, but up to the 'present time such withan opening 19 for reception of thepush but- 45 faucet valves have been lopen tovarious objecton 5 or other` suitable actuating means. It isr tions. For example, it was customary heretoto be noted that the `push button is precluded fore to have most of the fluid controlling mechafrom easy removal by the PIOVSOD 0f a SCIBW 20 nism located within thefaucet body 6, in which that thfeadedly engages 1311 push bi1-1312011,v th?! ease the diameter of the huid lshut-eff plunger head 21 of the screw being adapted'to engagea 50 7 was limited to the interior dimensions of the ShOulder 22 directed inWal'dlY 0f a SCI'eW gllfe faucet body 6. As a result o-f such construction, 23 that iS threaded 01 OthelWSe Secured Wthm the faucet body had to be made large and cumberthe faucet body by any suitable means such as. some with adesign not particularly pleasing in screw threads 24. The screw head 21 has a. slid--V appearance, 01 else the plunger 71nd to be made ing nt within the `hollow screw` guide 23, so that 5 1c means` such as screw threads or the like, so thaty the head may move from the position indicated in Fig. 3 to a position such as is indicated in Fig.

1 and then back to the first position. The' hollow vguide is provided with a suitable aperture 25' for discharge of water into the spout 18.

I The screw head 211s adapted to strike and move the upright valve stem kl5, for effecting unseating of the relief valve 26 and the main valve 10. The relief .valve element 26 is fixed to the lower end 27 of the valve stem by any suitable yplyline 28. The metal to metal kcontact adjustingvalve 2,9 merely determines the flow of iiuid which may be discharged through the spout 18. v

Theplunger 7is provided with a central bore 30 Vof ample size sothat the plunger may move freely longitudinally of the valve stem whileat the same time, water is permitted to iiow through the bore and past the valve stem when the plunger is moved downwardly into the water filled chamber 8. l It will be observed that the plunger is provided with suitable packing material 3l which is held in place by a packing nut or ring 32,'that has an inwardly directed `annular flange 33.` The flang`e33 provides an abutment for a thrust plate or bearing plate 34 which functions as a means for'moving the main plunger 7 downwardly when the valve stem 15 Ais depressed. From Fig. 4 it will readily be' observed that the thrust orbearing plate 34 is made in such a shape that suitable apertures'or passages 35 are provided through which Vthe relief chamber 8 may be exhausted of Water as the plunger is moved downwardly by manual force applied to actuating button 5. drawing, the thrust or bearing plate 34 is made squarein shape. y

' The plate 34 is provided with a central opening 36 for reception of a boss 37 formed on the bottom face of the relief Vvalve member 26, and said plate y is maintained in abutment kupon a shoulder 38 of the valve member by means o f a suitable spiral compression springer other yieldable means 39.r

mechanism, by means of a short section of tubing 43 'that is screw-threaded into the valve casing as at 44. The upper end of the member 43 is made conical in shape, as indicated at 45, in`

order that it may be received in a tapered portion 46 of the shank rinterior to provide a tight swivel or rotating connection. The connection is maintained by means of a nut 47 that is threadedly engaged with the lower end of the opposite shank 14, fsaid`v nut being'provided with an inwardly extending annular flange 48 which engagesja` shoulder 49 of the tubular member 43.V By means of the above described swivel connec- In'the form illustrated by the tion and the second swivel connection indicated at 50, the valve isvrendered capable of great flexibility in application to any given relationship of slab and main water supply 51;

The device is applied to the slab 17 by inserting the shank 14 through a suitable opening 52 in the slab, the slab being clamped between the faucet body flange 53 and a washer 54 by 'means of a nut 55 that engages the screw threads of the shank 14. With the exception of the actuating' means and a short length of the` Valve stem, all working parts and adjustments are disposed below or behind the slab 1'7, so that unauthorized tampering with the mechanism is rendered diflicult, while at the same time the faucet body 6 may be made small and neat in appearance. In prior devices of the generaltype to whichthis invention relates, the faucet body 6 extended over twice as far above the slab 17 as does thehousing 6 of the improved valve illustrated and described herein. It is to be noted furtherrthat the actuating means or button 'i s so mounted that it cannot be removed by unscrewing plication of force. j Y y y Between the button 5 and the screw guide23 is disposeda suitable fiexible washer 56,l of rubber or other suitable material which functions to absorb the shock and prevent noise in theevent that the button 5 is depressedby'the application of a sharp blow thereon. As is clearly indicated in Fig'. 3the washer also seals the space between the annular skirt of the buttonand the housing 6 when the button is disposed in the elevated position with the water owing from the opening 25 into the spout 18. It is Vto be observed that the areaof the opening 25 is less than that-of the cross sectional area of the spout interior, so that when water under pressure is issuing from the opening 25, a vacuum is createdwithin the interior 57 of the housing 6. By means of the construction just described, all tendency of a fluid to leak out around the actuating button is effectuallyprecluded. l Y .c The operation of the device is as follows. To effect a flow of waterthroug'h the faucet,lthe actuating member 5 is depressed, thereby causing thev head 21 of the `screw 2O to strike and move downwardly the stem 15 which extends into they valve casing 16. The downward movement of the'valve stem first opens the relief valvev 26 to relieve the pressure within the chamber 8-42. As the stem lis moved further, the thrust plate 34 is advanced,

against the resistance of `spring 39, until it strikes the shoulder 33 and moves the large plunger 7 downwardly for displacing the water in chamber 8-42. The downward` movement of the large plunger 7 effectsyopening `of the main valve 10 as is obvious. Water may thereupon flow from supply pipe 51, through the passages 28, 58 59 and 25, whence it is projected through' the spout of the faucet. WhenA the actuating means 5 is released, the water pressure acting upon the head 21 of the screw 20, elevates the button 5 to the normal position shown in Fig. 3,`so that there may be a free flow of water throughfthe opening25 and into the spout. While the water' isubeing thus delivered, the chamber 8 is slowly filling undue to passage of water through the orifice 12, therebyv slowly elevating the plunger 7A toward the closed valve vposition. It will be understood, of course, that while the chamber 8 is filling, the spring 39 is holding the relief valve 26 in a Vclosed position. After a measured amount'of water, determined'` by the sizeof the orifice 12has been delivered through the spout '18, the valve thus automatically closes or even by the apandremains'closeduntil the actuating member to secure continuous delivery of water. If itwere possible'to apply a weight to the button, careless persons' would many times permit the weight to remain thereon and thus bring about a'great waste of water, but by constructing the actuating mechanism in lthe manner disclosed herein, no satisfactory performance vcan be gained by maintainingthe actuating button Vin a fully depressed conv dition.V

The herein described improvements have obviated many of the faults common .to metering valves of theself -closing type, rendering them capable vof more general yusage in a satisfactory manner, since by meansof said` improvements the devices-hold their adjustment much longer and wear on the plunger is reduced due to its large diameter. Furthermore, there are no exposed parts or adjustments to be tampered with or abused, since all such parts are disposed beneath or behind the sink slab. The mechanical coni struction of the device is such that the exposed parts of the faucet body contain no large Working parts, hence the faucet body may be designed to meet the kdemand for neat and delicate appearing fixtures.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes in'structural details may be made,

lwithin the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: f

l. A faucet comprising in combination, a faucet body having a discharge spout, and a mounting flange on-the body, a body shank extending from the faucet body beyond the flange, said shank' having a free end, a fluid controlling valve lo- 'catedA at the free end of the shank exteriorly of both the shank and the body, and having a discharge port in communication with the body shank valve actuating means adjacent to the otherl 'end of'lthe shank andsupported by the faucetbody, and a valve stem extending through the` full length of the shank, into the discharge port'of the valve and arranged to cooperate lwith the actuating means "and the fluid controlling valveqsaid fluid controlling valve comprising a casing having a plunger chamber, anda valve plunger reciprccable in the casing and tting snugly within the .plunger chamber, the plunger being larger in diameter than the shank of the faucety body, and means lcooperating with the valve actuating rmeans at a location exteriorlyv of and remote from the valve plunger casing, for reducing the flow of fluid through the discharge `spout upon an attempt to forciblyhold the actuating means in a fully depressed condition.r i

2. A faucet comprising in combination, a faucet cation with the hollow tbody'. shank, afplungerv iltted closely within theA casing andadapted for reciprocating movement "therein, cooperative main valve seats supported by the plunger and the casing, a relief valve member and vcooperative relief valve seats on saidmember and the plunger, the casing providing aretarding chamber which may bel relieved of water pressure through the relief valve, a pressure leak passage leading to the retarding chamber and having fluid communication with a source of fluid under pressure, a valve for controlling flow of.v

fluid through the leak passage, a stern extending through the shank and the discharge port of the fluid controlling valve and arranged to respond to movement of the actuating means for unseating the main valve and' the relief valve, means for yieldingly urging the relief valve toward its seat, the main valve and the relief Valve being disposed wholly below the flangejof the body, and the plunger being larger in diameter thanthe shank of the faucet body so as to providey an exceptionally large area upon whichA the fluid from the pressure leak passage may act for gradually closing the main valve, and means cooperating with thel valvefactuating means at a location exteriorly of and remote from the valve` plunger casing, for reducing the ilow` ofy fluid throughv the discharge spout upon an attempt to forcibly-.hold the actuating means in a fully depressed condition.

3. A faucet comprising in combination, a faucet body having a top opening and a spout, a mounting flange adjacent to the spcut,'a hollow shank extending from theflange in axial alignment with the opening of the faucet body, an inverted cup- "shaped valve actuating button having a skirt portion extending partly into the opening of the faucet body, a headed member anchored in the button with the head thereof spaced from the button interior, a guide secured interiorly ofthe body, said guide having an abutment at an lend' thereof `against whichjthe head of the headed member may abut for limiting movement of the' button outwardly of the faucet body, and a stem' extending through the shank and the guide for movement upon reciprocation of the button.

ll. A faucet comprising in combination, a faucet body having a top opening and aspout, a mounting flange adjacent to the spout, a hollow shank extending from the flange in axial alignment with the opening of the faucet body, an inverted cupshaped valve actuating button having askirt portion extending partly into the opening of the faucet body, a headed member anchored in the button with the head thereof spaced from the button interior, a guide secured'interiorl'y of the body, said guide having an abutment at an 'end thereof` against which ythe head of the "headedr member may abut for limiting` movement ofthe button outwardly of the faucet body, a'stem extending through the shank and the guide for 5. A self-closing faucetcomprising in combi nation, a faucet body having a discharge port, a valveiand means acting constantly to close the valve, a depressible actuating means for opening the (valve, and means cooperating with the valve actuating means at a location exteriorly of and remote from the valve, for reducing the ilow'of ingly depressible valve actuating means adjacent` to the other end of the shank and supported by the faucet body, a valve stem extending through the `full length of the shank and arranged to cooperate With the actuating means of the fluid controlling valve, and means including an inverte-d headed stud on the yieldingly depressible actuating means, said stud being located adjacent to the discharge spout of the faucet and exteriorly of the valve, for reducing flow of'fluid through the discharge spout when the actuating means is forceably Aheld in 'a fully depressedicondition. c y

7. A sclf-closing faucet comprising in combination, a faucet body r having a discharge spout and a mounting flange on the body, a body shank .y extending from the faucet'body beyond the ange,

` in a fully depressed condition yreciprocating movement said shank having a free end, a yieldingly` depressible valve actuating'means supported upon the faucet body, a fluid controllingv valve `comprising Va casing and means for. attaching the casing to the free end of the shank, a plungerk tted closely within the casing and adapted for therein, cooperative main valve seats supported by the plunger and the casing, a relief valve member and cooperative relief valve seats on'said member and the plunger, the casing providing a r'etarding. chamber which may be relieved of water pressure through the relief valve, a pressure leak passage leading to the retarding chamber and having fluid cornmunication with a source of vfluid under'pressure, a stem extending through the shank and arranged to respond to movement of the actuating means for unseating the main valveand the relief valve, means foryieldingly urging the ref lief valve toward its seat, and means cooperating with the valve actuating means Within the faucet body and exteriorly of the main valve, for reduc` ing theflow of fluid through the spout in the event that the actuating means is forcibly held to .prevent selfclosing ofthe valves.

S. A faucet comprising in combinatiom a fau'-V cet body having a discharge spout, f and a mount--` ing flange on the body, a body shank extending from the faucet body beyond the flange, said shank having a free end, a fluid controlling valve located at the `free end of the shank exteriorly of both the shank andthe body, and having a discharge port irl-communication with the body shank, a vertical valve stem extending through the full length of the shank and into the discharge port ofthe valve, a valve actuating element disposed atop andextending` into the body in substantial alignment rwith the valve stem, means locatedabove the upper end ofthe valve stem and accessible only from the body A interior, for maintaining the actuating, element in the aforesaid position relative to thefaucet and the valve stem, and means associating the lower end of the valve stem rwith the fluid controlling casing and a valve plunger reciprocable in the casing, theplunger being larger in diameter than the shank of the faucetbody. i

` 9. A faucet comprisingv in combinatiomla' faucet body having a dischargespout, and amounting flange on the body, `a body shankextending from Vthe faucet body.` beyond the flange, said shank having afree end, `a fluid controlling valve located at the free end of the. shankk exteriorly of for maintaining the actuating element `infthe .i

aforesaid position relativeto the faucet'and the valve stem, and means associating the lowerV end `of the:valve stem with the ,fluid controlling valve,

for actuationof'said valvebythe valve stem.

10. A faucet comprising inlcombination, a

faucet body` having a discharge spout-and a mounting flange on the body, abody shank extending from the faucet body beyond the'flange, said shank having a free end, a fluid controlling valve locatedY at the free' .end of the shank, exteriorly of both the shank and thebody, vand having-a discharge port in communication with the :body shank, a verticalvalve stemextending throught-he full lengthlof the shankan'd-into the discharge port of thevalve, a valve actuating element disposed atop and extending-into the faucetbody substantially in alignment with the valvestem, an apertured guide xed Within the body above the stem and beneath the actuating element, and a normally inaccessible headed stud depending from the actuating elementin-k teriorly ofthe faucet body and extending .through one apertureof the `guide so as to limit .upward movement of the actuating element, the head of the stud being in position to contactf the up# per end of the vertical stem, and 'meansassof ciating thelower end` of thevalve stem with the fluid controlling valve, for actuation'` of said valve by the valve stern.`

- 11. A faucet comprising in combination, a faucet body having a discharge spout, and a mounting flange on the body, a body shank Yextending from the faucet body beyond the flange, said shank having a vfree end, a fluid controlling valve located at thefree end of the'shan'kY ex- Vteriorly of both the shankv and thek body, and

having va discharge port.. in communication withl the body shank, a vertical valve stem extending through the full length of `theshank andinto the discharge port of theivalve', a valve actuating element disposed atop andextending linto the faucet body substantially in alignment with the valve stem, an apertured guide fixed Withinthe body above the stem and beneath the actuating element, anda normally inaccessible headed stud depending from the actuating element interiorly of the faucet body and extending through one' aperture of the guide so asto limit upward movementv ofthe actuating element,l thehead of the stud being in position to contactthe upper end of the vertical stem, and means associating the lower end of the' valve stem with the fluid con` trolling valve, for actuation of said valve by the valve stem, said 'fluid controllingvalve comprising av casing and avalve plungeryreciprocable in the casing, the plunger being larger in diameter than the shank of the faucet body. i

12. A faucet comprising in combination, a faucet body having a discharge spout, and a mounting flange on the body, a body shank extending from the faucet body beyond the flange, said shank having a free end, a fluid controlling -valve located at the free end of the shank exteriorly of both.the shank and the body, and having a discharge port in communication with the body shank, a vertical valve stern extending through the full length of the shank and into the discharge port of the Valve, a valve actuating element disposed atop and extending into the faucet body substantially in alignment with the valve stem, an apertured guide xed within the body above the stem and beneath the actuating element, and a normally inaccessible headed stud depending from the actuating element interiorly of the faucet body and extending through one aperture of the guide so as to limit upward movement of the actuating element, the head of the stud being in position to contact the upper end of the vertical stem, and also to vmove into position for impeding flow of fluid through a second aperture of the guide when the actuating member is substantially fully depressed, and means associating the lower end of the valve stem with the fluid controlling valve, for actuation of said valve by the valve stem.

13. A faucet comprising in combination, an apertured faucet body having a discharge spout, and a mounting flange on the body, a hollow body shank extending vertically from the faucet body beyondthe iiange, axially of the faucet body aperture, said shank having a free open and the body, said valve having adischarge port in communication with the vertically disposed shank, a valve actuating element extending .ark

end, a iiuid vcontrolling valve located at said freeend of the shank exteriorly of both the shank through the aperture lof the faucet body axially valve, said chamber being considerably larger in7 y diameter than the faucet body shank, a valve plunger snugly fitting but reciprocable within t the enlarged plunger chamber, a connection between the plunger andthe faucet stem, and a pressure leak means disposed for conveying line pressure to one face of the plunger for urging the valve always to the closed position, said pressure leak means being rendered substantially non-clogging by reason of the permissible large size thereof due to the exceptionally large area of the plunger.

DANIEL W.- MCNEIL. 

